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Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the news of a exclusive testing phase set to begin in October.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, Bungie stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already seen its portion of controversies, the development team appears committed to ensure their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, allowing more players to get an early look of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will notify players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for players who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"There will be a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.